meal standing,
the same as a crane in a shallow, or moving from
tuft to thistle like you'd see a jennet on the high
road?

_Queen_: Well, at the least, let you drink down
a share of this tansy juice. I was telling you it
would be answerable to your health.

_King_: You are doing entirely too much for me.

_Queen_: Sure I am here to be comfortable to
you. This house before I came into it was but
a ship without a rudder! Here now, take the
spoon in your hand.

_Dall Glic_: Leave it there, Queen, and I'll
engage he'll swallow it down bye-and-bye.

_Queen_: Is it that _you_ are meddling, Dall Glic?
It is time some person took you in hand. I wonder
now could that dark eye of yours be cured?

_Dall Glic_: It is given in that it can not, by
doctors and by druids.

_Queen_: That is a pity now, it gives you a sort
of a one-sided look. It might not be so hard a
thing to put out the sight of the other.

_Dall Glic_: I'd sooner leave them the way they
are.

_Queen_: I'll put a knot on my handkerchief till
such time as I can give my mind to it.... Now,
my dear (_to King_), make no more delay. It is
right to drink it down after your meal. The
stomach to be bare empty, the medicine might
prey upon the body till it would be wore away
and consumed.

_King_: Time enough. Let it settle now for
a minute.

_Queen_: Here, now, I'll hold your nose the way
you will not get the taste of it.

(_She holds spoon to his mouth. A ball flies
in at window; he starts and medicine
is spilled_.)

_Princess: (Coming in with Nurse.)_ Is it true
what they are telling me?

_Queen_: Do you see that you near hit the King
with your ball, and, what is worse again, you have
his medicine spilled from the spoon.

_Princess: (Patting him.)_ Poor old King.

_Queen_: Have you your lessons learned?

_Princess: (Throwing books in the air.)_ Neither
line nor letter of them! Poem book! Brehon
Laws! I have done with books! I am seventeen
years old to-day!

_Queen:_ There is no one would think it and
you so flighty as you are.

_Princess: (To King.)_ Is it true that the cook
is gone away?

_King: (Aghast.)_ What's that you're saying?

_Queen:_ Don't be annoying the King's mind
with such things. He should be hidden from every
trouble and care.

_Princess:_ Was it you sent him away?

_Queen:_ Not at all. If he went it was through
foolishness and pride.

_Princess:_ It is said in the house that you annoyed
him.

_Queen:_ I neve